Spring support device

ABSTRACT

A spring support device including a housing having a lower wall and an upper wall, a helical compression spring within the housing and bearing at its lower end against the lower wall, a spring backing plate within the housing and bearing against the upper end of the spring, and a load-carrying unit extending through the spring and the lower wall and engaging the backing plate. In one embodiment, the load-carrying unit includes a threaded rod extending through the upper wall. In another embodiment, a pair of spaced threaded rods, which are parallel to the path of movement of the load-carrying unit, are secured to the backing plate and extend through the upper wall. In both embodiments, the rods are provided with nuts that are operable from the exterior of the housing for adjustably limiting downward travel of the backing plate and the load-carrying unit and, therefore, the force applied to the spring by a load.

United States Patent Suozzo May 2, 1972 [54] SPRING SUPPORT DEVICE [72] Inventor: [57] ABSTRACT Leonard S. Suozzo, 366 Maple Hill Drive, Hackensack, NJ. 07601 [22] Filed: June 10, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 44,976

Primary Examiner.lames B. Marbert Attorney-F. J. Pisarra A spring support device including a housing having a lower wall and an upper wall, a helical compression spring within the housing and bearing at its lower end against the lower wall, a spring backing plate within the housing and bearing against the upper end of the spring, and a load-carrying unit extending through the spring and the lower wall and engaging the backing plate. In one embodiment, the load-carrying unit includes a threaded rod extending through the upper wall. In another embodiment, a pair of spaced threaded rods, which are parallel to the path of movement of the load-carrying unit, are secured to the backing plate and extend through the upper wall. In both embodiments, the rods are provided with nuts that are operable from the exterior of the housing for adjustably limiting downward travel of the backing plate and the load-carrying unit and, therefore, the force applied to the spring by a load.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Variable spring support devices are utilized extensively for supporting piping and/or other equipment which is subjected to generally vertical movement in use. Such devices usually comprise a housing having lower and upper walls and a tubular side wall extending between and secured to the lower and upper walls. Positioned within the housing is a movable spring backing plate that is coupled to a load-carrying rod which extends through an opening in the lower wall. Also positioned within the housing is a helical compression spring that is disposed between and engages the housing lower wall and the backing plate.

It is common practice to precompress the spring and temporarily secure the backing plate against movement in either direction away from its cold load position at the time the device is assembled and prior to installation. This facilitates installation and reduces the possibility of subjecting the device to excessive overloading at the time of installation. A means for so precompressing the spring, which has enjoyed wide acceptance in industry, is that disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,870. This means employs connector or preset" pins that are readily placed into and out of cooperative coupling engagement with the housing and the backing plate, as desired.

It is important that load travel be limited after the device is installed and is in active service. This is accomplished by a travel stop arrangement or means according to this invention, several forms of such an arrangement being respectively described and illustrated in the ensuing detailed description and in the accompanying drawing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the art of supports and, more particularly, to a spring device for supporting piping and/or other equipment that is subjected to vertical movement in use. The invention pertains, in one of its more specific aspects, to a variable spring support device having a simple, novel and readily accessible adjustable travel stop means incorporated therein.

This invention is related to and represents an improvement over the spring support device which is disclosed in my said U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,870.

The travel stop of this invention constitutes a safety feature for a variable spring support device and serves to effectively protect the piping or other equipment carried by the device by limiting spring deflection.

The travel stop restricts movement of piping or other equipment to a selected position other than its original cold position as contemplated by the removable preset pins of U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,870. It is particularly useful when weight is added to piping or the like, such as by transmitting either water therethrough during hydrostatic testing or a cleansing liquid during a cleaning operation. The parts of the travel stop are so arranged as to permit of convenient and ready adjustment, as required by particular conditions. This eliminates the need for turning the usual load rod to vary its length, which procedure, in the case of heavy loads, is a tedious, difficult and costly operation.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a variable spring support device having incorporated therein simple, novel, readily accessible and conveniently adjustable travel stop means for limiting movement of a load, such as piping, to a selected position other than its original cold position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a travel stop for a variable spring support device, the travel stop serving as a safety adjunct to protect a piping or other load which is carried by the device by limiting spring deflection when the device is in service.

This invention has for a further object the provision of a spring support device of the character indicated that is simple and compact in design; that is sturdy and durable in construction; that is reasonable in manufacturing and installation costs; that is adapted to be easily and quickly adjusted, as required; and that is capable of performing its intended functions in an efiicient and dependable manner.

The above-stated objects and additional objects, together with the advantages of the invention, will be readily understood by persons trained in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing which respectively describe and illustrate two embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding parts in the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in central vertical cross section of a spring support device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 1, parts being broken away or in cross section for better illustration; and

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 and is illustrative of a modified form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is first had to FIGS. 1 and 2 which illustrate one preferred and recommended spring support device according to this invention. The device shown in these views comprises a housing 10 consisting of circular and parallel lower and upper walls 11 and 12, respectively, and a side wall 13 which is welded to the lower and upper walls to obtain a rigid unitary structure having requisite strength. Lower wall 11 and upper wall 12 are provided with aligned central openings 14 and 15, respectively. Side wall 13 is provided with a pair of diammetrically opposed openings 16 and a vertical slot 17 (FIG. 2).

An indicator plate 18 is mounted along slot 17 and is secured to side wall 13 by screws 19. This plate is provided with a scale having a series of graduations 20 for indicating the distance traveled by a load which is carried by the device.

Positioned within the housing is a dished spring backing plate 21 having a central through opening 22 and a pair of diammetrically opposed blind bores 23 which extend inwardly from its peripheral edge. Each of a pair of pin connectors or preset pins 24 registers with a corresponding opening 16 and blind bore 23 for maintaining the backing plate and compression spring means, which will be described, in cold load position. These pins are inserted at the time of assembly and are removed after installation had been completed.

The backing plate 21 has a lateral extension 25 (FIG. 2) which projects into slot 17 and cooperates with graduations 20 to indicate load travel.

A helical compression spring 26 is interposed between and bears against housing lower wall 1 1 and backing plate 21.

A load-carrying unit 27 includes a threaded upper rod 28 which extends through backing plate opening 22 and which carries a nut 29 that bears against the upper surface of the backing plate. Nut 29 is welded to rod 28. The load-carrying unit also includes a threaded lower rod 30 and a turnbuckle 31 which engages the lower end portion of rod 28 and the upper end portion of rod 30. The turnbuckle is welded to rod 28 to prevent relative rotation. Rod 30 is adapted to be connected to a piping or other load (not shown).

The device, to the extent described above, is essentially the same as the spring support device of my said U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,870.

The device, as indicated earlier herein, is provided with adjustable travel stop means which will now be described. The travel stop means is generally identified by numeral 33 in FIG. 1 and comprises a threaded rod 34 and a nut 35. Rod 34 is a rectilinear continuation of rod 28 and, as shown, extends through and beyond opening 15 in housing upper wall 12. Nut 35 engages the portion of rod 34 which is above upper wall 12.

The device is equipped with a unit 36 which serves the dual functions of protecting the portion of rod 34 above upper wall l2 and permitting ready and convenient access to nut 35. Unit 36 is of inverted U-shaped configuration and consists of a pair of parallel arms 37, which are welded at their free ends to housing upper wall 12, and a web 38. As shown in FIG. 1, arms 37 are spaced from opposite sides of rod 34 and web 38 is spaced a sufiicient distance above upper wall 12 to allow maximum upward movement of this rod.

A connector 39 is threaded at its lower end for engagement with a central tap in web 38 and is provided with a lock nut 40. The connector is coaxial with rod 34 and load-carrying unit 27 and is adapted to be anchored to a stationary overhead support (not shown).

Upon installation of the device and removal of preset pins 24, load-carrying unit 27 is adapted to be moved downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 1, by a piping load or the like to the extent allowed by engagement of nut 35 with housing upper wall 12. At such times, the device is automatically converted into a rigid support, thereby limiting deflection of spring 26 and protecting the piping against damage. Adjustment of nut 35 along rod 34 varies the effective length of this rod, as required by particular conditions of use.

Reference is next had to FIG. 3 for an understanding of the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated therein. This embodiment includes a housing 10, a spring backing plate 21, a pair of preset pins 24 and a compression spring 26 which are preferably the same as the corresponding parts of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device of FIG. 3 also includes a load-carrying unit 41 having an upper threaded rod 42 which extends through backing plate opening 22 but which is provided at its upper end with a head 43 that bears against the backing plate. Connector 39, earlier described, is threadedly coupled directly to housing upper wall 12 and is coaxial with rod 42.

The travel stop means of FIG. 3 comprises a pair of threaded rods 44, each having an adjusting nut 45. Each rod 44 is affixed to backing plate 21 by welding and projects through and upwardly beyond a corresponding opening 46 in housing upper wall 12. Rods 44 are parallel and equispaced from connector 39. The axes of rod 42, connector 39 and rods 44 lie in a common plane.

Based on the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation, objects and advantages of my present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in the constructions described above and illustrated in the drawing may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it being intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a spring support device which includes a housing having a lower wail, an upper wall spaced from the lower wall and a side wall connected to the lower and upper walls, a backing plate unit within the housing and movable in the space between the lower and upper walls, compression spring means within the housing and bearing against the lower wall and the backing plate unit, and a load-carrying unit connected to the backing plate unit and extending through the spring means and an opening in the lower wall, the improvement comprising travel stop means for limiting movement of the backing plate unit in the direction of the lower wall and corresponding deflection of the spring means when the device is in active service, said stop means including rod means connected to one of the units and extending through an opening in the upper wall and adjusting means carried by the rod means for varying the efi'ective length of the rod means, said adjusting means being positioned and operable from the exterior of the housing.

2. A spring support device according to claim 1 wherein the rod means is connected to the load-carrying unit.

3. A spring support device according to claim 2 wherein the rod means comprises a threaded rod which is a linear extension of the load-carrying unit and the adjusting means comprises an internally threaded member, such as a nut, which engages the rod and 18 adapted to engage the outer surface of the upper wall.

4. A spring support device according to claim 3 further including an inverted U shaped protective unit secured to and projecting above the upper wall and comprising a web and a pair of arms, each arm being spaced from a corresponding side of the rod, and a connector affixed to the web and aligned with the rod, said connector being adapted to be anchored to a stationary support.

5. A spring support device according to claim 1 wherein the rod means is connected to the backing plate unit.

6. A spring support device according to claim 5 wherein the rod means comprises a pair of parallel threaded rods which extend through and above corresponding openings in the upper wall, the device further including a connector affixed to the upper wall and aligned with the load-carrying unit, said connector being adapted to be anchored to a stationary support.

7. A spring support device according to claim 6 wherein the longitudinal axes of the rods and the connector are in a common plane and each rod is spaced from a corresponding side of the connector. 

1. In a spring support device which includes a housing having a lower wall, an upper wall spaced from the lower wall and a side wall connected to the lower and upper walls, a backing plate unit within the housing and movable in the space between the lower and upper walls, compression spring means within the housing and bearing against the lower wall and the backing plate unit, and a load-carrying unit connected to the backing plate unit and extending through the spring means and an opening in the lower wall, the improvement comprising travel stop means for limiting movement of the backing plate unit in the direction of the lower wall and corresponding deflection of the spring means when the device is in active service, said stop means including rod means connected to one of the units and extending through an opening in the upper wall and adjusting means carried by the rod means for varying the effective length of the rod means, said adjusting means being positioned and operable from the exterior of the housing.
 2. A spring support device according to claim 1 wherein the rod means is connected to the load-carrying unit.
 3. A spring support device according to claim 2 wherein the rod means comprises a threaded rod which is a linear extension of the load-carrying unit and the adjusting means comprises an internally threaded member, such as a nut, which engages the rod and is adapted to engage the outer surface of the upper wall.
 4. A spring support device according to claim 3 further including an inverted U-shaped protective unit secured to and projecting above the upper wall and comprising a web and a pair of arms, each arm being spaced from a corresponding side of the rod, and a connector affixed to the web and aligned with the rod, said connector being adapted to be anchored to a stationary support.
 5. A spring support device according to claim 1 wherein the rod means is connected to the backing plate unit.
 6. A spring support device according to claim 5 wherein the rod means comprises a pair of parallel threaded rods which extend through and above corresponding openings in the upper wall, the device further including a connector affixed to the upper wall and aligned with the load-carrying unit, said connector being adapted to be anchored to a stationary support.
 7. A spring support device according to claim 6 wherein the longitudinal axes of the rods and the connector are in a common plane and each rod is spaced from a corresponding side of the connector. 